Burlington police sponsor benefit for COPS CARE and Special Olympics

By Molly McGowan / Times-News

Published: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 05:38 PM.

Tailgate gamers, backyard partyers, and kids who just like to throw beanbags can test their cornhole game skills and take in a Burlington Royals game July 13, during the first Charity Cornhole Tournament at the Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Sponsored by the Burlington Police Department’s community-oriented police unit and hosted by the Burlington Royals, the cornhole tournament’s registration fees will benefit both the department’s COPS CARE program and the Special Olympics of North Carolina.

Each year, the COPS CARE Fund Drive gathers donations from local businesses and individuals to give $100 Christmas shopping sprees to kids who might otherwise go without holiday gifts. The program also provides food and clothing to the children’s families and the elderly.

And the Burlington Police Department regularly holds fundraisers for and contributes to the Special Olympics of North Carolina, said Assistant Chief Chris Verdeck.

This year, the Burlington Police Department has come up with “more of a fun way” to raise those funds, said Pfc. Joel Thomas. Thomas and Cpl. Winston Meadows hope the cornhole tournament will become an annual event, and have planned the inaugural competition for a game day at the Burlington Athletic Stadium.

“We obviously want to be a strong community partner for different organizations and different causes,” said Ben Abzug, general manager of the Burlington Royals minor league baseball team.

“It’s going to be on our concourse, on the third base side,” near the new beer stand, he said. As teams progress through the double elimination bracket, they’ll make their way to the championship “show court” in front of the third base bleachers, he said.

Tailgate gamers, backyard partyers, and kids who just like to throw beanbags can test their cornhole game skills and take in a Burlington Royals game July 13, during the first Charity Cornhole Tournament at the Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Sponsored by the Burlington Police Department’s community-oriented police unit and hosted by the Burlington Royals, the cornhole tournament’s registration fees will benefit both the department’s COPS CARE program and the Special Olympics of North Carolina.

Each year, the COPS CARE Fund Drive gathers donations from local businesses and individuals to give $100 Christmas shopping sprees to kids who might otherwise go without holiday gifts. The program also provides food and clothing to the children’s families and the elderly.

And the Burlington Police Department regularly holds fundraisers for and contributes to the Special Olympics of North Carolina, said Assistant Chief Chris Verdeck.

This year, the Burlington Police Department has come up with “more of a fun way” to raise those funds, said Pfc. Joel Thomas. Thomas and Cpl. Winston Meadows hope the cornhole tournament will become an annual event, and have planned the inaugural competition for a game day at the Burlington Athletic Stadium.

“We obviously want to be a strong community partner for different organizations and different causes,” said Ben Abzug, general manager of the Burlington Royals minor league baseball team.

“It’s going to be on our concourse, on the third base side,” near the new beer stand, he said. As teams progress through the double elimination bracket, they’ll make their way to the championship “show court” in front of the third base bleachers, he said.

The tournament is open to all ages and begins at 1 p.m. on July 13, prior to the 7 p.m. game between the Royals and the Kingsport Mets. The game is limited to the first 64 teams to enter, and registration is $40 per two-person team. Each registered player will receive a ticket to that night’s baseball game.

“It’s a fireworks night, too,” Abzug said.

Thomas and Meadows said the first place team will take home a $300 cash prize, and the team coming in second will win $150. They said additional prizes and raffles will be awarded throughout the competition, including a plain set of cornhole boards with a $100 gift certificate to Bullzeye Sign & Graphics Co. to have the boards customized.

Also up for grabs in a raffle contest is the “ceremonial first pitch” of the night’s baseball game, said Abzug, who encourages people to visit the ballpark and “make a day of it” that Saturday.

“It’s exciting for our fans to have something going on at the ballpark before the game,” he said. “And in this case, it’s for a good cause.”

To register for the cornhole tournament, send the $40 entry fee with team name, names of both players, email and phone number to P.O. Box 1358 (“Attention Joel Thomas”), Burlington, NC, 27216. Make checks payable to “Burlington Police Club” with “COPS CARE” written in the memo line.

For more information or a registration form, contact Pfc. Joel Thomas at 336-516-1397 or jathomas@ci.burlington.nc.us.